[VHFcontesting] Use of digital modes during contest

[Eugene Zimmerman]

Remember though that while digital modes are specifically not prohibited,
all contacts must be made station to station.  The use of repeaters
INCLUDING digipeaters and satellites is prohibited in all ARRL VHF contests
on any mode.  Thus working people through PacketClusters which was (but I
think is not now) allowed in the Field Day is NOT allowed in the VHF
contests.

PSK31 and WSJT are two digital modes whose characteristics make them
excellent choices for weak signal work.

I must defer to the digital mavens as to the correct settings although I
think there are few differences between what is used on HF and VHF these
days.

73  Gene  W3ZZ
Director, CQWW VHF Contest
FM19jd  MD
50 => 10 GHz
Grid Pirates VHF Group K8GP
Member, CQWW Contest Advisory Group

----- Original Message -----
From: "W4XP" <w4xp at erols.com>
To: <vhfcontesting at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 8:15 AM
Subject: RE: [VHFcontesting] Use of digital modes during contest


> Joe and reflector mates:
>
> This question came up last year.
>
> I took the opportunity to review the General Rules For All ARRL
> Contest and General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands above 50 MHz
> (VHF) to see if there is anything about digital modes.
>
> In the General Rules digital modes are implied:
>
> "3.9. Contacts made through repeaters, digipeaters, or gateways are
> not permitted."
>
> But digital modes are not specifically identified as a "permitted"
> mode.
>
> In the General Rules for ARRL Contests on bands above 50 MHz (VHF)
> makes a reference to FM as a permitted mode, again implied, not
> specifically:
>
> "1.9. Only recognized FM simplex frequencies may be used, such as
> 144.90 to 145.00; 146.49, .55 and .58, and 147.42, .45, .48, .51, .54
> and .57 MHz on the 2-meter band."
>
> CW is specifically stated, in the Rover Section, 2.3, as a permitted
> mode:
>
> "2.3.4. Rovers sign "rover" on phone and /R on CW after their call
> sign."
>
> In the June QSO Party Rules the is an implication that there are more
> than one acceptable modes:
>
> "7. Miscellaneous:
>
> 7.1. Stations may be worked for credit only once per band from any
> given grid square, regardless of mode. This does not prohibit working
> a station from more than one grid square with the same call sign (such
> as a Rover)."
>
> I could find only FM and CW modes referred to in any of the ARRL
> Contest Rules.
>
> I would infer from this that any recognized mode; phone (any emission
> type), or digital (any emission type, including CW) are acceptable for
> contacts.
>
> In the September ARRL QSO Party K8GP, and other participants, made
> several WSJT contacts on the 50 MHz band.
>
> 73,
> ____________________________________________________
> Chuck Watts, W4XP; FM18ew -- 1.8 through 2304 MHz
> Delmarva VHF and Microwave Society, K8GP; http://k8gp.net
> Grid Pirates Contest Group
> Potomac Valley Radio Club; http://www.pvrc.org
>
>
>
>
>